Louis XIV’s Absolute Monarchy and 17th Century European Power
Absolutism in 17th Century Europe
In the 17th century, European monarchs sought to impose absolutism, also known as the divine right of kings. They believed that God had given them their power and that they were His representatives on Earth. This conviction granted them the right to exercise unlimited power. The monarch controlled all branches of the State: he passed laws, governed, and served as the supreme judge.
Louis XIV: The Sun King (1643-1715)
Louis XIV, known as the Sun King (1643-1715), was the absolutist monarch that other kings imitated. He consolidated his authority in various ways:
- He exercised power personally. His ministers could not make decisions without his approval.
- He controlled the nobles. He brought them to the court and gave them subsidies and posts.
- He promoted political centralization. He unified the laws and taxes of the kingdom. He also appointed governors in the provinces, who were public servants with extensive powers.
- He imposed religious unity. He persecuted Calvinists and subjected the French church to the king’s authority.
French Hegemony and Foreign Policy
The main aim of Louis XIV’s foreign policy was to consolidate France’s hegemony. France fought wars with Spain, the United Provinces, and the Holy Roman Empire. French territories were extended, mainly at the expense of the Habsburgs.
Louis XIV inherited a colonial empire in America. (The French had founded Quebec in the early 17th century.)
Economic Reforms under Colbert
Louis XIV had very large expenses as a result of his aggressive foreign policy, the construction of Versailles, and the maintenance of the court. To meet these expenses, the king’s minister, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, introduced reforms:
- Royal factories were protected by the State. These made luxury products like tapestries and pottery.
- Trading companies were given a monopoly of trade with regions in America and Asia.
- Customs duties were raised, increasing the price of imported products. This promoted consumption of French products.
- Regulations controlled the quality of products.
The Rise of Maritime Trade in the United Provinces
The United Provinces were a group of small territories which fought against Spain to obtain their independence. However, in the first half of the 17th century, they became a great economic power. This was mainly the result of the growth of their trade.
The Dutch became the main intermediaries in trade. All kinds of products (wood and cereals from the Baltic, iron from Sweden, cloth from England, wine and wool from Spain) were brought to the ports of the United Provinces. They were then sold to other countries.
Two large trading companies were founded: the Dutch East India Company and the Dutch West India Company. These companies monopolized Asian and American trade and obtained large profits.
In the second half of the 17th century, the Dutch fought the English in several colonial wars and lost much of their power.
The Dutch Parliamentary Republic
The development of trade led to the rise of a rich bourgeoisie, formed by important merchants, bankers, and shipyard owners. They lived in luxurious mansions in cities like Amsterdam.
Thanks to their economic power, the bourgeoisie obtained control of Parliament and acquired great political power.